Experian directors sell after positive figures

Don Robert, the chief executive of credit checking firm Experian, has raised more than £4m from a share sale the day after the company reported higher interim profits despite tough market conditions. US division boss Chris Callero made a £164,000 profit on 120,150 options he took up on 18 November. He also raised another £2.78m from the sale of other shares. Finance director Paul Brooks cashed in £1.99m worth of shares. All three men raised significant amounts of cash from option sales in October. They have subsequently sold nearly all the option shares they retained at that time - Brooks sold exactly the same number as he retained. Reported profit before tax in the six months to September 2009 rose to $351m from $318m a year earlier. Benchmark pre-tax profit, which excludes exceptional items, rose 5% to $437m. Broker Charles Stanley had forecast underlying pre-tax profit of $425m. Revenue dipped to $1,874m from $2,017m, but was 1% higher at constant exchange rates, driven by a strong performance in Latin America. Year on year organic revenue growth was 1% for the group as a whole. Net debt at the end of September was $2,048m, down $62m over the six month period. Robert was upbeat in the trading statement: 'In the second half, we continue to expect modest organic revenue growth and, for the year as a whole, remain on track to grow profits at constant currency and deliver strong free cash flow'. Top Director BuysRoyal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) Director name: Mr Philip R HamptonAmount purchased: 250,000 @ 36.85p Value: £92,125Globus Maritime (GLBS) Director name: Mr George KarageorgiouAmount purchased: 71,000 @ 62.67p Value: £44,496FBD Holdings (FBH) Director name: Mr Andrew LangfordAmount purchased: 3,000 @ € 6.80 Value: € 20,400Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) Director name: Mr John McFarlaneAmount purchased: 50,000 @ 37.77p Value: £18,885Top Director SellsExperian Group (EXPN) Director name: Mr Don RobertAmount sold: 700,000 @ 592.60p Value: £4,148,200Experian Group (EXPN) Director name: Mr Chris CalleroAmount sold: 475,000 @ 585.00p Value: £2,778,750Experian Group (EXPN) Director name: Mr Paul BrooksAmount sold: 337,645 @ 588.32p Value: £1,986,433Experian Group (EXPN) Director name: Mr Chris CalleroAmount sold: 120,150 @ 592.29p Value: £711,636Petmin (PTMN) Director name: Mr Lebogang A K MogotsiAmount sold: 500,000 @ 14.00p Value: £70,000Petmin (PTMN) Director name: Mr Lebogang A K MogotsiAmount sold: 500,000 @ 14.00p Value: £70,000